Avoiding Underground Services

Striking a buried service is one of the most dangerous and expensive things that can happen on a dig. Gas and electricity strikes injure people; water and telecoms strikes cause costly disruption and repair bills. Safe digging is a routine, not an afterthought.

Know what's down there first

Before breaking ground, gather what information you can about buried services — utility drawings, visible evidence like covers, meters and marker posts, and knowledge of where supplies enter the property. Treat every unknown area as if services are present until proven otherwise.

Locate, then dig carefully

Use a cable avoidance tool to scan the dig area and mark what it finds. Where services are known or suspected to be close, expose them by careful hand digging rather than powering straight in with a bucket. Machines and services don't mix at close range.

Work to the marks

Once services are located and marked, keep the machine clear of them and hand-dig the final approach. Maintain safe clearances and never assume a service runs in a straight line or at a consistent depth — they often don't.

When to bring in expertise

If the site is congested with services, or the consequences of a strike are serious, an experienced operator and proper detection are worth every cent. On our operated hires this discipline comes as standard — tell us what's on site and we'll plan the dig accordingly.